ATLANTA _ Middle linebacker Deion Jones came up with a big interception in the end zone to help keep the Falcons' NFC South division title hopes alive on Thursday.
The Falcons held on for a 20-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints before 72,866 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Jones, a New Orleans native who played at LSU, had a terrific game and was clutch when the defense needed a late stop.
The Falcons improved to 8-5. The Saints dropped to 9-4. The Falcons trail the Saints by one game with three to play.
Jones saved the day after quarterback Matt Ryan was misfiring at an alarming rate. He completed 15 of 27 passes for 221 yards for one touchdown and three interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 55.2.
The Falcons run game wasn't netting much early, but they stayed with the run and it eventually paid off. Devonta Freeman carried most of the load. He had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to put the Falcons up 10-3. He had 11 rushes for 30 yards at halftime, for a paltry 2.7 average per carry.
Tevin Coleman wasn't much better with four carries for 15 yards for a 3.8 average. They got the run game rolling in the second half. Freeman rushed 24 times for 91 yards. Coleman finished with 32 yards on nine carries before leaving the game with a concussion.
The Falcons were determined to get Julio Jones off to a good start. He had three catches for 65 yards before Ryan was intercepted in the final minute of the second quarter and cost the Falcons a field goal. Ryan had plenty of time to throw, but the Saints played tight coverage.
He had interceptions on three straight possessions. Austin Hooper had a pass that hit him in the chest intercepted on the first play of the third quarter by Saints linebacker Chris Banjo. And safety Marcus Williams intercepted an ill-advised pass in the end zone on the Falcons next possession.
The Saints converted the turnover into a touchdown to take a 17-10 lead. Ryan answered with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Sanu with 10:01 left in the fourth quarter. Jones finished with five catches for 98 yards.
The Falcons knocked Saints rookie sensation Alvin Kamara out of the game in the first quarter. He suffered a concussion on a hit from Jones on second-and-10 from Atlanta's 12. Kamara did not return.
Mark Ingram had eight rushes for 33 yards for a respectable 4.1 yards per carry at the half.
The Falcons had a mix up on Tommylee Lewis' 26-yard touchdown pass and didn't defend the pick play any better near the goal line and that resulted in a Drew Brees to Mike Thomas 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Adrian Clayborn had a big sack mid-way through fourth quarter to get the ball back for the offense with the score tied.
Matt Bryant made a 28-yard field to capped the Falcons first possession and put them ahead, 20-17, with a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter.
That field goal gave him 1,000 points during his career with the Falcons.
The Falcons and Saints will meet again in New Orleans on Christmas Eve, a game that could decide the NFC South champion.
